Accumulator



March 1, 1955 T. J. M CUISTION ACCUMULATOR Filed Dec. 4/1950 11v; 'ENTOR. 75MMy J. McCu/sr/a/v ,4 rromvgys United States PatentOflice 2,703,108 Patented Mar. 1, 1955 This invention' relatestothe. art of'accumulators of the pi ype Itis'a knownfact thatin the useofa piston type of accumulator inrconneeti'on with hydraulic equipmen't, as

for instance upon an airplane; the piercing of the wallet the storage chamber for'the' liquid causes 'suffip1ent'1nter'- nal displacementiand sufliient'instantaneousv increase in internal pressure to produce an explosion-like bursting of the walls of the accumulator and a'consequent' scattering of the particles ofme'tal thereof." Th1s,.ofcourse,"may

prove very 'seriousand he'nce th'istyp'eof accumulator is to be regarded as a real hazard .under such conditions. This old"type=of"'accumulatorisobjectionable "also because of the non-absorption'rand transmission of vibrations or surging due to the irregularity of operation of the pump connectedto' the "same." These are the conditions which my presentimproved ram 'of device is 1ntendedto correct.

Therefore one-"object -of" --mypresent invention -is to devise a piston type-'of accumulator With-meanswhereby it will be able to absorb the instantaneously increased internal pressure due to the displacement by a bullet or any other object piercing the wall and entering the storage chamber of the accumulator.

Another object is to devise an accumulator of this type that is capable of absorbing minor fluctuations or surges of internal pressure that may be due to impulses of the pump or other hydraulic mechanism associated therewith.

A more specific object of my present invention is to devise an accumulator of this type with one or more flexible diaphragms that will respond to the increase or fluctuation in the internal pressure, as above referred to, and that will hence serve to accomplish the desired purpose as above explained.

Other objects will appear from the following description and claims when considered together with the accompanying drawing.

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view of my present improved form of device;

Fig. 2 is a view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

It is to be understood that the present form of disclosure is merely for the purpose of illustration and that there might be devised various modifications thereof without departing from the spirit of my invention as herein set forth and claimed.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing in detail, the metal cylinder 1 is closed at its one end by an integrally formed curved wall and at its opposite end by the head 2. There is provided also the interior co-axially spaced cylindrical metallic wall 3 which has its one end hermetically connected to the head 2 and has its other end provided with centering engaging means 3a at intervals within the outer wall 1, the intermediate openings 3b being for a purpose to be later explained.

Slidably mounted within the inner cylinder wall 3 there is the metal piston 5 which has annular grooved flanges with sealing rings 6 and 7 therein for engagement within the wall 3. The piston wall, between points 6 and 7, may be spaced from the wall 3 and there may be a port or ports 8 for connecting this intermediate space 5a with the oil chamber 9 so as to amplify the storage capacity for the oil to this extent. The chamber 10 is for air.

The inner end of the piston 5 has extending thereacross the flexible diaphragm 11 with an annular mar- 2;. gina1..outwardly.1openingsgroove 12 fora sealingq'ring. whichfhasengagement withthe mouth of the piston 5.- The diaphragm-11' is held in place ,by the split. spring ring..13i.1again'st the-shoulder 14 of the: piston 5. The. fiexibleldiaphragmll maybe made of any suitable: mate-t rial as for instance rubber or rubber-like materiaL-light. metal or plastic.

The head 2 has a central opening. therethroughiwith.

the tubular connection 15 for. the'admissionor discharge of the oil or any ,other liquid .to or fromthe chamber 9,:

with suitable means connected thereto for this purpose;

but not'here shown.

I may'provide also another flexible diaphragm 16 of. the same-orlike material "as the diaphragm 11. The

diaphragm 16 'has a centralop'ening therethrough in reg-..,

istry with the opening -in the'head 2'and has the mar-v ginal central portion thereof anchored in position cen-. trally of the head"2"by means" of thescrew-threade' thimble 17 whichhas an annular flange engaging the diaphragm 16.: The 'outeredgeportion of the diaphragm 16 is hermetically" secured in position between the end of-the inner cylinder Wall 3 and the head 2. When thediaphragm'16 is employed, there are provided the ducts 18 "which 'afiord' communication "between the air cham ber-=10 "and'the space 1612, between the diaphragm" 16 i and-the head-2,by way of the openings 3b and the space Sc'between theWalls l and 3." Suitable air pressure may be supplied through the ChCClCOf'ODB-WEIY valve 2a.in an opening ;through' the head 2' to' the combined chamber for the airor'oth'er gaseousbody.

Now asto the operation of my device. The filling of: oil-- or other liquid into-the chamber 9' will cause the piston-S to compress the air inthe chamber 10 and' also K in' the spaces 3e and 16a,- all of which are connected and may be regarded as a combined continuous chamber for the air or other gaseous body. Thus there may be stored in the compressed air or other gaseous body the force which it is desired to utilize later for delivery of the oil or other liquid from the chamber 9 through the tubular connection 15 to the desired point of use.

One practical advantage of the present improved form of device resides in the fact that, by virtue of the flexible diaphragm or diaphragms, the entrance of a bullet or other object through the wall of the cylinder and into the chamber 9 will produce only a minimum increase in internal pressure and there will thus be precluded the fragmenting of the cylinder wall and the danger incident thereto.

Another practical advantage of my present invention consists in the absorption of minor vibrations due to fluctuations in pressure or to pressure surges or impulses in the hydraulic system that may be employed in connection with the pump for the oil or other liquid. Therefore, by virtue of the flexible diaphragm or diaphragms, my present accumulator will be relieved of such vibrations. According to my invention, it is possible to employ either one or both of the flexible diaphragms 11 and 16; and, if the diaphragm 16 be omitted, the ducts 18 also will be omitted. Also, it is to be understood that my present invention may be embodied in either a single or double wall form of cylinder.

In the event that the auxiliary storage chamber 50 and the ports 8 be provided, the sealing of the piston 5 within the cylinder will be provided by the rear sealing ring 7, the ring 6 in such event being merely for the purpose of facilitating the straight-line movement and centering engagement of the piston 5 along the inner cylinder wall 3.

Not only does this accumulator possess certain advantages as above suggested in comparison with other forms of such devices, but it may be manufactured in a practical manner and at a reasonable cost and also is dependable in its operation in the manner and for the purpose herein explained. Other practical advantages will no doubt readily suggest themselves to those who are familiar with the art to which this invention relates.

What I claim is:

1. An accumulator comprising a cylinder closed at one end and having a fixed head at the other end thereof, and a piston reciprocatable longitudinally within said cylinder so as to divide the interior of said cylinder into separate chambers for a liquid and a gaseous body, respectively, upon opposite sides of said piston, and a yieldable diaphragm spaced from one end of said cylinder in a manner co-axially with respect thereto so as to provide an auxiliary chamber for the gaseous body therebetween, means of communication between said first-named chamber for the gaseous body and said auxiliary chamber therefor, and said chambers being provided with openings through the wall of said cylinder for the liquid and the gaseous body, respectively.

2. An accumulator comprising a cylinder, a hollow cylindrical piston, open at its outer end, bodily reciprocatable longitudinally within said cylinder and having its inner end closed by a transversely arranged flexible diaphragm so as to divide the interior of said cylinder into separate chambers for a liquid and a gaseous body, respectively, upon opposite sides thereof, said piston having sealing engagement with the inner surface of said cylinder, said flexible diaphragm constituting the central portion of said piston and having its opposite surfaces exposed to the gaseous body and the liquid, respectively, within their chambers, said chambers having openings through the wall of said cylinder for the liquid and the gaseous body, respectively, said piston having a portion of its wall spaced from said cylinder wall so as to provide an annular chamber therebetween, said piston at its one end having means of communication between said liquid chamber and said annular chamber, and said piston at its other end having means of hermetically sealing engagement with said cylinder wall so as to provide a seal between said annular chamber and the chamber for the gaseous body.

3. An accumulator comprising a cylinder, and a piston bodily reciprocatable longitudinally within said cylinder and in sealing engagement with the inner surface thereof and having a flexible diaphragm extending transversely as part thereof so as to constitute the central portion thereof and dividing the interior of said cylinder into separate chambers for a liquid and a gaseous body, respectively, upon opposite sides of said diaphragm, said chambers having openings through the wall of said cylinder for the liquid and the gaseous body, respectively, another flexible diaphragm spaced from one end of said cylinder and co-axially therewith so as to afford an auxiliary chamber for the gaseous body between the end of said cylinder and said other diaphragm, and means of communication between said auxiliary chamber and said first-named chamber for the gaseous body.

4. An accumulator comprising a cylinder, and a piston bodily reciprocatable longitudinally within said cylinder and in sealing engagement with the inner surface thereof and having a flexible diaphragm extending transversely as part thereof so as to constitute the central portion thereof and dividing the interior of said cylinder into separate chambers for a liquid and a gaseous body, respectively, upon opposite sides of said diaphragm, said chambers having openings through the wall of said cylinder for the liquid and the gaseous body, respectively, another flexible diaphragm spaced from one end of said cylinder co-axially therewith so as to afford an auxiliary chamber for the gaseous body between said one end of said cylinder and said other diaphragm, means of communication between said auxiliary chamber and said first-named chamber for the gaseaous body, and said one end of said cylinder being provided with openings therethrough for the liquid and the gaseous body, respectively.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,417,256 Kremiller Mar. 11, 1947 2,417,873 Huber Mar. 25, 1947 2,440,065 Ashton Apr. 20, 1948 2,450,031 Berger Sept. 28, 1948 2,592,613 Snyder Apr. 15, 1952 

